What is your F-Class competition brass schedule?

[d0nkey]

Mostly pertaining to 7PRCW:

I hear and have seen some people who only use virgin brass for competitions, while others say 3-4x usage use then on to the next. I come from PRS and have no problems reloading brass up to 8-10x before I usually decide it's time to move on to new brass. But in F-Class where every variable is usually something to be paid attention to, I'd like to get a general consensus of what everyone else does. I'm still learning how to read wind so alleviating any other variables will at least help me out a bit.

So anything to help my lousy shooting will be appreciated.

 

[F Class John]

I've easily gotten to 8 firings on Lapua brass (6.5prc necked up) and still hammered. Do I prefer to shoot a big match with brass that's 1-4 firings, sure, but when I won the mid-range nationals that was brass with an average of 13 firings on it.

Edit: Annealed on an AMP every firing

 

[dthomas]

As long as you're brass is in good shape keep using it.

 

[323]

If folks have that mind set then why even bother buying good brass. I can buy the cheaper 6.5 prc brass and toss it in the trash can after every match and still be ahead in money versus buying lapua, ADG or Peterson,

 

[SpencerC87]

If folks have that mind set then why even bother buying good brass. I can buy the cheaper 6.5 prc brass and toss it in the trash can after every match and still be ahead in money versus buying lapua, ADG or Peterson,

You can buy cheaper brass but then you pay for it in time and inconsistency. People buy quality brass so you don't have to screw around or worry about case consistency in neck and body thicknesses, primer pocket variations, flash hole issues, case weight/volume consistencies etc... When the "average" F class competitor has probably 400-500 pieces on the go, not having to put massive prep into each case just to get it close to Lapua/Alpha etc.. is huge imo.

If you are just out to shoot and have some fun, by all means, use whatever method you prefer. If you plan to compete, you can't afford the cost savings of cheaping out.

 

[d0nkey]

I've easily gotten to 8 firings on Lapua brass (6.5prc necked up) and still hammered. Do I prefer to shoot a big match with brass that's 1-4 firings, sure, but when I won the mid-range nationals that was brass with an average of 13 firings on it.

I like to hear real world experiences, thanks. I'm 3 firings into mine, hopefully I can have the same positive results.

 

[323]

You can buy cheaper brass but then you pay for it in time and inconsistency. People buy quality brass so you don't have to screw around or worry about case consistency in neck and body thicknesses, primer pocket variations, flash hole issues, case weight/volume consistencies etc... When the "average" F class competitor has probably 400-500 pieces on the go, not having to put massive prep into each case just to get it close to Lapua/Alpha etc.. is huge imo.

If you are just out to shoot and have some fun, by all means, use whatever method you prefer. If you plan to compete, you can't afford the cost savings of cheaping out.

But if individuals are only using brand new virgin brass for matches why bother with the good stuff. I be curious to see how big of a variation one would have at 600yds or 1000yds using regular run of the mill hornady versus the good “stuff”. Granted hornady probably going to be done after one firing but it goes back to who cares only using it in once for matches toss it the trash can.

 

[323]

I like to hear real world experiences, thanks. I'm 3 firings into mine, hopefully I can have the same positive results.

The brass I used in Phoenix at the cmp western games 1k yd matches in October had 4-5x firings on them. My dropped points is not because of the brass.

 

[SpencerC87]

But if individuals are only using brand new virgin brass for matches why bother with the good stuff. I be curious to see how big of a variation one would have at 600yds or 1000yds using regular run of the mill hornady versus the good “stuff”. Granted hornady probably going to be done after one firing but it goes back to who cares only using it in once for matches toss it the trash can.

There are zero people who buy quality brass just to use it once and throw it out. Your notion of what some people do skews your perception of reality. Many people prefer new or once fired brass because it just seems to perform better than pieces that are 20x fired, that doesn't mean they don't still use the 20x fired cases for smaller matches or practice.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Next match will 11 firings counting fire forming, annealed 3 times- Lqpua

 

[saunaking]

I prefer brass to be fired at least 3 times for important matches. It's how you take care of the brass before the next firing that matters. When you are pushing the upper nodes of the PRCW, don't expect the primer pockets to stay tight as long as someone that is in the intended velocity ranges for what the cartridge was developed for.
I have 500 pieces that have 6-7 firings on them with my present PRCW. Tight PP's and no clickers.
Cheers

 

[323]

There are zero people who buy quality brass just to use it once and throw it out. Your notion of what some people do skews your perception of reality. Many people prefer new or once fired brass because it just seems to perform better than pieces that are 20x fired, that doesn't mean they don't still use the 20x fired cases for smaller matches or practice.

My perception of reality is not skewed, all this tells me. That individuals that use only new virgin brass for “big matches” went down a rabbit hole and haven’t climbed back out of it. Why just use new brass for the “big” matches why not use it for all their matches? If new brass performs so well then use it for all the matches.

 

[323]

Im prepping my brass for swn and majority of it has like I said earlier 4-5x firing in some cases 6x fired. I’m not a poor man nor am I rich l, I can not afford to buy new brass all the time. So I will get all I can out this adg brass then toss it and start over with new stuff eventually.

 

[gmr4]

Getting 500-600 pieces of brass to 4x firings in preparation for a match like the Nationals is a huge undertaking… got to shoot alot.. spend alot… use a barrel or two. I think the brass is best between 3 and 7 firings ….7-6.5 PRCW .. anneal and roll-size….